Apparatus for heating sheet material in preparation for folding



July 17, 1928. V 1,677,492

G. RITTER APPARATUS FOR HEATING SHEET MATERiAL IN PREPARATION FOR FOLDING Filed Dec. 26, 1925 INVENTOR: George Kzttcr,

fi TTORNEl S.

Patented July 17, 1928.

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Application filed December-26; 1925. Seria-INo. 77,810.

This invention relates to apparatus for continuously heating sheet material to facilitate subsequent fol-ding. Snch prepara tion is-necessary for example in'themanue facture of certain types of prepared flexible roofing shingles in order to avoid;'during" folding, fracture of the'librous base mate rial or cracking of the bituminous weather resistant surfacing with which it is coated, ancl'to render permanent the-creases resulting as a consequence of the-folding.

In apparatus heretofore designed for the purpose above outlined, steam pipes or ovens were invariably used as the heating means; these allowing very little latitude in the way of controlling the heat applied, and entailed heating of a very much larger area than actually necessary.

My invention is directed toward overcoming the objections just noted; or, in other words, toward providing perfect control of the treatment to the end of assuring uniform results regardless of variations in the composition or thickness of the material, and toward making possible confinement of heat application to those regions where the folds or creases are to be made.

With reference to the drawings, F ig..I is a plan view of a shingle pre-heating apparatus conveniently embodying my invention and,

Fig. II is a side elevation of the same.

In these illustrations, the apparatus is comprehensively designated 5, and shown as occupying an intermediate position between a roller trestle 6 by which shingles S are successively directed to it, and a folding machine 7 (only partly shown) into which the heated shingles are drawn by cooperating nip rolls 8. The apparatus 5 comprises an elongated table 9 which is sustained at aconvenient height from the floor by legs 10, and which afiords the shingles S support while traveling thereover-in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. Iunder conveyance of an endless carrier belt 11 running about rollers 12, 12. Incidentally to progression as just noted, the shingles S are guided to a pre-determined course by angle bars 13, 14 capable of lateral adjustment rel- I ative to the table 9, for a purpose to belater explain-ed; V v At one side, the table 9 is recessed as at 15 to perm'itflae tips of the shiiigles S to overhang, and to-accommodate the-heating means-1 6, whicl'i, in accordance-with my invention, consists of a pair OfLlQngitudin-ally,

extending parallel gas pipes 17-18 that "are symmetrically arranged above and belowthe table 9 and perfo-rateda'lon-g their; lengthsto provide a linear series of opposingjet flames, as "conventionally represented in ig.

II. Each of the pipes 17, 18 is equipped with a standard type of Bunsen control means 19, as well as a hand valve 20 where-- by the gas flow and terminal intensity may be'adjusted as required or desired in meeting various exigencies of practice.

In operation of the apparatus, as the exposed overhanging tips of the shingles S are passed edgewise through the hot zone between the pipes 17, 18 of the heating means 16, the opposing flame jets play simultaneously upon the upper and lower surface of the material overa limited'lateral area and along a straight line in the direction of travel, such line being pre-determinable by adjustment of the guides 13, 14

in accordance with the desired allocation at which the material is to be folded. Such concentration and localized application of heat is not only conducive to economic fuel consumption, but precludes the possibility. of injury likely to ensue from unnecessary heating of the entire shingles S as ofttimes occurred with operation of previous forms of heating apparatus. By proper adjustment of the Bunsen devices 19 and the hand 5, I may employ an adjustable speed regu-,-

lating means in connection with the drive of the carrier belt 11, for example a pair of friction discs, such as diagrammatically shown in Fig. II, and whereof the driver invention as being particularlyadapted for treatment of strip shingles S, it may obviously be,,used, with like advantages, in treating contmuous roofing or any other sheet material, the nature of which requires pre-heating to insure a perfect and permanentbend or crease.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. In apparatus for heating bituminous roofing material in preparation for folding,

thecombination of a table having one side recessed and over whlch the material is con tinuously passed,and heating means includ- 1ng opposed et burners accommodated 1n the table recess and between which the material is passed edgewise for heating over a limited lateral aream the line of travel.

2. In apparatus for heating bituminous roofing. material in preparation for folding, the combination of a table havingone side recessed and over which the material is continuously passed with one edge thereof overhanging said recess, and heating means including opposed jet burners with means for varying the thermal intensity between which the overhanging edge of the material is passed for localized heating over alimited area in the line of travel.

3. In apparatus for heating bituminous roofing material inpreparation for folding, the combination of a source of concentrated heat, means enabling regulation of the intensity of such heat, means with an adjustable speed control to continuously move the material past the source of the heat so as to be affected over a limited lateral area eX- tending in the direction of travel, and guide means for the material adjustable laterally relative to the heating means. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Maurer, N. J. this 17th day of December, 1925. v v

' GEORGE BITTER 

